Editing Caliphate (section)

==== Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba (929–1031) ====
{{Main|Umayyad state of Córdoba|Al-Andalus}}
[[File:Califato de Córdoba - 1000-en.svg|thumb|right|Map of the Caliphate of Cordoba c. 1000]]
During the Umayyad dynasty, the [[Iberian Peninsula]] was an integral province of the Umayyad Caliphate ruling from [[Damascus]]. The Umayyads lost the position of caliph in Damascus in 750, and [[Abd al-Rahman I]] became Emir of Córdoba in 756 after six years in exile. Intent on regaining power, he defeated the existing Islamic rulers of the area who defied Umayyad rule and united various local fiefdoms into an emirate.

Rulers of the emirate used the title "emir" or "sultan" until the tenth century, when [[Abd al-Rahman III]] was faced with the threat of invasion by the Fatimid Caliphate. To aid his fight against the invading Fatimids, who claimed the caliphate in opposition to the generally recognised Abbasid caliph of Baghdad, [[Al-Mu'tadid]], Abd al-Rahman III claimed the title of caliph himself. This helped Abd al-Rahman III gain prestige with his subjects, and the title was retained after the Fatimids were repulsed. The rule of the caliphate is considered as the heyday of Muslim presence in the Iberian Peninsula, before it fragmented into various [[taifa]]s in the eleventh century. This period was characterised by a flourishing in technology, trade and culture; a number of the buildings of [[al-Andalus]] were constructed in this period.